Introduction
PC-PTSD-5 begins with a question about exposure to a traumatic event, followed by five questions about recent responses. The six prompts on this page therefore include both the exposure question and the symptom screen.
The symptom questions address unwanted reminders, avoidance, vigilance, detachment and blame. These can affect life in different ways: a disrupted night and avoiding a place may both matter even though they look different. The original study evaluated the screen in a veteran primary-care sample.
DES-II explores dissociative experiences in more detail, while the grief inventory focuses on bereavement. A description of the event's timing and its effect on everyday routines adds context without requiring a detailed retelling of the event itself.
Instructions
Read each item carefully and choose the response that best applies.
Scoring and result metrics
The result page reports a local screening score for this questionnaire. Use the score range, any subscale scores, and the interpretation band together rather than treating one number as a diagnosis.
- Score range
- 0-5
- Items scored
- 6
- Result indicators
- Total score / Interpretation band when available
Score interpretation bands
- 0-2Lower range
A score below 2 is generally not indicative of likely PTSD.
- 3-5Likely PTSD range
Scores above 2 are generally indicative of likely PTSD.
Interpretation bands summarize screening thresholds from the questionnaire source material. Higher scores usually indicate more of the measured concern unless the tool notes a different scoring rule.
Tool information
- Version
- 6 questions
- Administration
- Self-report
- Intended audience
- Adults in primary-care or community settings reviewing trauma exposure and recent post-traumatic stress symptoms
Sources
Related tests
Explore related screening tools in the same topic area.
Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II)
DES-II asks how often experiences such as absorption, memory gaps, detachment from oneself and a sense of unreality occur.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
The Edinburgh scale asks about emotional experiences around the postnatal period, including enjoyment, self-blame, worry, sadness and feeling overwhelmed.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Item Scale (GAD-7)
GAD-7 brings together seven experiences related to anxiety, including persistent worry, difficulty relaxing, restlessness and irritability.